Craps game improvement
A proposition bet for Craps referred to as a FIRE BET™. The method includes predetermining a schedule of a pay-out table, players placing FIRE BET wagers at respective player betting areas prior to a shooter's initial come out; accumulating points responsive to outcomes of the shooter's dice throws, wherein points are made when a number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is twice rolled before sevening out, and wherein repeating of any made number is ignored, and making a pay-out based upon the points accumulated and the schedule.
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The present application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 10/090,132, filed on Feb. 28, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,689.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a well known wagering game called “Craps” and more particularly to an improvement thereto referred to herein as a “FIRE BET™”.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Craps is a casino wagering game which is enjoyed for its fast pace and excitement. The standard rules of play for Craps are very well established, so that there is no need to inform those having ordinary skill in the art how Craps is played. However, as a prelude to discussion of the present invention, it is useful to provide a short overview of the standard rules pertaining to a Craps “Pass Line” bet.
Referring now to
In the play of Craps according to the standard rules, every player gets a chance to throw the dice. The person throwing the dice is called the “shooter”. The shooter must make a “pass line” (referred to also as a “line”) wager (bet) by placing a selected number of chips representing the value of the wager within the pass line bet area 20. The shooter then throws the dice for his or her initial toss, referred to as the “initial come out”. If a 7 or an 11 was thrown, then a Pass Line wager wins and is paid even money; this outcome is referred to as a “natural winner”. If a 2, 3, or 12 was thrown, then a pass line wager loses and is forfeited; this outcome is referred to as a “natural loser”. If a number is thrown other than a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, then that number establishes the shooter's “point” (this point is either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). The shooter's point is then marked by a dealer with a white circular point marker 26 called a “puck” (in
While the game of craps played according to the standard rules is exciting and enjoyable to play, what remains needed in the art is an improvement in the form of a simply executed proposition wager which provides the bettor the possibility of a high pay-out relative to the value of the bet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is an improvement to the standard rules of craps in the form of a simply executed proposition wager which provides the bettor the possibility of a high pay-out relative to the value of the bet, referred to hereinafter as a “FIRE BET™”.
A FIRE BET is a proposition bet made in conjunction with a Craps game otherwise played according to conventional rules of play. The lay-out is modified to include sequentially labeled wager areas located in the center of the Craps lay-out near the customary proposition bet area, as well as to include a plurality of mutually spaced player betting areas located in front of each player position around the Craps lay-out. The betting areas are sequentially labeled around the lay-out in correspondence with the sequential labeling of the wager areas. A plurality of point markers are provided for selective placement at the point number area as points are made according to the method of the present invention. The outcome of a FIRE BET wager is determined according to the method of the present invention and is dependent upon the course of play of the Craps game, wherein all other wagers under conventional rules are independent of whether or not a FIRE BET is wagered.
A player can only make a FIRE BET wager before the initial come out dice toss of each shooter. Each player making a FIRE BET wager must do so by making a FIRE BET wager indication by placing his or her chip(s) on the appropriate player wager area on the lay-out directly below their gaming position. Once a FIRE BET is wagered by placement of at least one selected chip each participating player's respective player betting area, a dealer will retrieve the chip(s) and place the chip(s) upon the corresponding wager areas, designated for a “FIRE BET” in the proposition area. These FIRE BET wagers will then remain in the respective wager areas until the FIRE BET wagers are paid or lost, wherein FIRE BET wagers are won or lost based upon accumulation of “made points” in response to outcomes of dice throws by the shooter.
The shooter throws his or her initial come out toss. If the outcome is a natural winner or looser, there is no affect upon accumulation of made points, and, in this scenario, a shooter then repeats an initial come out throw. If the initial come out toss result is a point (a number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) then the point is established, and the puck is placed at the point location of the point number area. The shooter then again tosses the dice. If the outcome is the point, then the point is made, the puck is removed and a selected point marker is placed at the point location of the point number area a point marker is placed. The shooter then continues to toss the dice. Additional points are accumulated in the same manner only if the outcome is a new point not already made. At any time during the course of play, if the outcome is a seven out the game is over.
A pay-out to the FIRE BET wagerers is won according to the schedule of a predetermined pay-out table. For example, a pay-out may require accumulation of 3 points, wherein if the game ends at an accumulated 0, 1 or 2 points, then the FIRE BET wager is lost; but, if 3 points are accumulated, then a pay-out is won according to the schedule of the pay-out table. In this example, if the game ended at the accumulation of points higher than 3, then the pay-out won is that only of the points of the highest accumulated points according to the schedule of the pay-out table.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved Craps game having a simply executed proposition wager which provides the bettor the possibility of a high pay-out relative to the bet.
This, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
Referring now to the Drawing,
In addition to the aforesaid conventional wager indicia, the lay-out 102 has, as above mentioned, FIRE BET indicia 104. In this regard, a plurality of sequentially labeled FIRE Bet wager areas 112 are located in a FIRE BET wager area 114 at the center of the lay-out 102 near the proposition bet area 110, and a plurality of mutually spaced FIRE BET player betting areas 116 are located in front of each player position, respectively, around the lay-out. The FIRE BET player betting areas 116 are sequentially labeled in clockwise rotation around the lay-out 102, wherein the labeling is in one-to-one correspondence with the sequential labeling of the FIRE BET wager areas 112. In the preferred embodiment, both the FIRE BET wager areas 112 and the FIRE BET player betting areas 116 are circles, 14 in number, having numeric labeling beginning with 1 and ending with 14.
As shown at
It is to be noted that the indication of points made may be by any mechanism or device, be that puck-like point markers (as shown at
The outcome of a FIRE BET wager is determined according to the method of the present invention and is dependent upon the course of play of the Craps game, wherein all other wagers under conventional rules are independent of whether or not a FIRE BET is wagered.
According to the preferred method of the present invention, any player may make a FIRE BET wager, either by itself or independently accompanying a conventional Craps wager, wherein the player can only make a FIRE BET wager before the initial come out dice toss of each shooter. Each player making a FIRE BET wager must do so by making a FIRE BET wager indication by placing his or her chip(s) 122 on the appropriate FIRE BET player betting area 116 on the lay-out 102 directly below his or her respective gaming position. For example,
Once a FIRE BET is wagered, a dealer will retrieve the chip(s) 122 and place the chip(s) upon the corresponding FIRE BET wager areas 112 of the FIRE BET wager area 114 adjacent the proposition area 110 (see
Referring now in particular to
Execution block 130 represents the FIRE BET players placing their respective FIRE BET wagers according to the aforesaid methodology. Thereafter, as represented by execution block 132, the shooter throws his or her initial come out toss. As represented by decision block 134, if the outcome is a natural winner or looser, then there is no affect upon accumulation of made points, and, in this scenario, the course of play returns to execution block 132, whereat a shooter repeats an initial come out throw. However, again referring to decision block 134, if the initial come out toss result is a point (a number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) then, as represented by execution block 136, a point N1 is established, wherein N1 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The puck is then placed by a dealer at the point location corresponding to N1 of the point number area 108. For example with reference to
As represented by execution block 138, the shooter then again tosses the dice. If the outcome, as represented by decision block 140, is a number 7, then the shooter has sevened out and the FIRE BET wager is lost (forfeited), as represented by block 142. If not, then, as represented by decision block 144, if the outcome is the point (that is, the result equals N1), then, as represented by execution block 146, the first point is made, and the FIRE BET players now have one made point (or simply, one point). Simultaneously, the puck is removed by a dealer, and a selected point marker 1181 is placed at the point location of the point number N1 (ie., point number 8) of the point number area 108 (see
As represented by execution block 148, the shooter then again tosses the dice. As represented by decision block 150, if the outcome is a number 7, then the shooter has sevened out and the FIRE BET wager, as represented by decision block 152, is either lost (forfeited), as represented by execution block 154, or is won, as represented by execution block 156. In this regard, a pay-out is won if the number of points made is at least equal to a preset number of made points (or simply, points) according to a schedule of a pay-out table, as exemplified by Pay-Out Tables A through I hereinbelow. Further in this regard, it is preferred that no pay-out be won for accumulation of just a single made point (or point). If the outcome is not a 7, then, as represented by decision block 158, if the outcome is a point (that is, the result is N2 wherein N2 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and N2≠N1), then, as represented by execution block 160 the point is established. The puck is then placed by a dealer at the point location corresponding to N2 of the point number area in the manner aforesaid. Revisiting decision block 158, if, however, the outcome is other than the point, the shooter again rolls the dice, as represented by a return to execution block 148.
The shooter, as represented by execution block 162, again tosses the dice. As represented by decision block 164, if the outcome is a number 7, then the shooter sevens out and the FIRE BET wager, as represented by decision block 166, is either lost (forfeited), as represented by execution block 168, or is won, as represented by execution block 170. As mentioned above, a pay-out is made if the number of points made is at least equal to a preset number of made points (or points) according to a schedule of a pay-out table, as exemplified by Pay-Out Tables A through I hereinbelow. For example, if according to the schedule a minimum number of points is 3, then in this situation of play all FIRE BET wagers are lost; and, even if according to the schedule the minimum number of points is 2, still no pay-out is won because in this situation of play the second point has only been established, but has not yet been made. If the outcome is not a 7, then, as represented by decision block 172, if the outcome is the point (that is, the result is N2), then, as represented by execution block 174 the second point is made, and the FIRE BET players now have two made points (or two points). The puck is then removed by a dealer, and, with the first point marker remaining at the point number N1, a second selected point marker is placed at the point location of point number N2 of the point number area, as aforedescribed. For example with reference again to
With the second point made, the methodology of play continues in the manner hereinabove described, as represented by execution block 176. In this regard, the third point is established when N3 is rolled before a 7 is rolled, wherein N3 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and N3≠N1≠N2, and wherein the third point is made when N3 is again rolled before a 7 is rolled; the fourth point is established when N4 is rolled before a 7 is rolled, wherein N4 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and N4≠N1≠N2≠N3, and wherein the fourth point is made when N4 is again rolled before a 7 is rolled; the fifth point is established when N5 is rolled before a 7 is rolled, wherein N5 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and N5≠N1≠N2≠N3≠N4, and wherein the fifth point is made when N5 is again rolled before a 7 is rolled; and finally, the sixth point is established when N6 is rolled before a 7 is rolled, wherein N6 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and N6≠N1≠N2≠N3≠N4≠N5, and wherein the sixth point is made when N6 is again rolled before a 7 is rolled.
The schedule of a predetermined pay-out table is critical information prior to play because: 1) it specifies the minimum number of points for a pay-out (any lesser number of points results in a loss (forfeit) of the FIRE BET wager), wherein only the pay-out corresponding to the accumulated point is paid out (all pay-outs for lesser point numbers are not paid); 2) it specifies the pay-out odds, and, consequently the pay-out per the accumulated points; and 3) it inherently defines the house odds edge.
Pay-Out Tables A through I define preferred pay-out schedules, Pay-Out Table I being most preferred. An exact probability analysis was performed to derive the probability distribution of all points made. The accuracy of the analysis was verified by a one-billion roll computer simulation. In that a shooter could, in theory, have an infinitely long streak of making points without sevening out, approximations were made. However, the error is estimated to be within an insignificant 0.000002%.
It is to be understood that by the term “shooter” means a person or persons who shoot from an initial come out to a seven out. In that the person who is serving as the shooter may leave the game in mid-play, any player who serves thereupon in substitution as shooter in his or her place is included by, and within the meaning of, the term shooter.
To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above described preferred embodiment may be subject to change or modification. Such change or modification can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for a proposition bet of Craps comprising:
- a Craps table lay-out having a periphery, said Craps table lay-out comprising a pass line bet area, a point numbers area and a proposition bet area located at a central portion of said Craps table lay-out; said Craps table lay-out further comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced player betting areas uniquely identified for the proposition bet, said plurality of player betting areas being located between generally said pass line bet area and said periphery of said Craps table layout, each player betting area of said plurality of player betting areas being respectively located at a player play position of said Craps table lay-out; and a plurality of wager areas, each wager area of said plurality of wager areas corresponding to a respective player betting area of said plurality of player betting areas, said plurality of wager areas being all located adjacent said proposition bet area.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of point markers, said plurality of point markers comprising:
- a first made point marker indicative of a first made point accumulation;
- a second made point marker indicative of a second made point accumulation;
- a third made point marker indicative of a third made point accumulation;
- a fourth made point marker indicative of a fourth made point accumulation;
- a fifth made point marker indicative of a fifth made point accumulation; and
- a sixth made point marker indicative of a sixth made point accumulation.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of chips for being placed upon said plurality of player betting areas, wherein placement of a chip of said plurality of chips upon a selected player betting area of said plurality of player betting areas is indicative of a making of the proposition bet.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a pay-out table which is indicative of predetermined pay-outs payable for the proposition bet responsive to the made point accumulations.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of chips for being placed upon said plurality of player betting areas, wherein placement of a chip of said plurality of chips upon a selected player betting area of said plurality of player betting areas is indicative of a making of the proposition bet.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pay-out table which is indicative of predetermined pay-outs payable for the proposition bet responsive to the made point accumulations.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first made point indicator indicative of a first made point accumulation;
- a second made point indicator indicative of a second made point accumulation;
- a third made point indicator indicative of a third made point accumulation;
- a fourth made point indicator indicative of a fourth made point accumulation;
- a fifth made point indicator indicative of a fifth made point accumulation; and
- a sixth made point indicator indicative of a sixth made point accumulation.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 24, 2003
Date of Patent: Sep 5, 2006
Patent Publication Number: 20040173966
Assignee: Hopbet, Inc. (Henderson, NV)
Inventor: Perry B Stasi (Henderson, NV)
Primary Examiner: William M. Pierce
Attorney: Peter D. Keefe
Application Number: 10/720,575
International Classification: A63F 9/04 (20060101);